Rigid cigarette packet

ABSTRACT

A rigid cigarette packet ( 1 ), in the form of a right parallelepiped and extending along an axis (Z), has a container ( 4 ), and a lid ( 5 ) hinged to the container ( 4 ) along a hinge ( 6 ) so as to move between a closed position and an open position in which the lid ( 5 ) permits access to a compartment ( 14 ), housing cigarettes ( 2 ), through an opening ( 15 ) in the container ( 4 ), which has a front wall ( 9 ), a rear wall ( 10 ), two lateral walls ( 11 ), a bottom wall ( 12 ), and a top wall ( 13 ); the opening ( 15 ) extends along the front wall ( 9 ), between the hinge ( 6 ) on the front wall ( 9 ) and a free edge ( 18 ) of the front wall ( 9 ).

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This is the U.S. national phase application of International ApplicationNo. PCT/IT01/00587, filed 22 Nov. 2001.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a rigid cigarette packet.

BACKGROUND ART

A conventional rigid cigarette packet is normally in the form of a rightparallelepiped extending along a longitudinal axis and comprising acup-shaped container having a front wall, a rear wall, two lateral wallsand a bottom wall; and a cup-shaped lid which, like the container, has afront wall, a rear wall, two lateral walls and a top wall, and is hingedto the container by a hinge between the rear wall of the container andthe rear wall of the lid.

The above type of packet is commonly known as a rigid hinged-lid packet,and is formed from a rigid cardboard blank comprising preformed foldlines, along which it is folded to form the packet. The packet ofcigarettes is subsequently wrapped in a sheet of overwrapping materialfor sealing the packet and maintaining the right degree of humidity ofthe cigarettes.

The above rigid packet has been marketed successfully for many years,during which, several variations have been designed to make it morepractical and improve folding of the blank when forming the packet. Arigid hinged-lid packet and its many variations, however, all share acommon drawback closely related to the structure of the packet. Morespecifically, when the lid is turned about the hinge, a rigid hinged-lidpacket has an opening which substantially corresponds to a section ofthe packet crosswise to the longitudinal axis, and through which thecigarettes project from the container to be gripped by the user.

The cigarettes are normally oriented with the filters facing the lid, sothat the filter must be gripped by the user to withdraw a cigarette fromthe container. Gripping the cigarette, however, by the filter, which isthen placed in the mouth, poses problems of hygiene, which could besolved by inverting the cigarettes, i.e. with the filters facing thebottom wall of the container, so that the plain ends of the cigarettesproject from the top end of the container. Though more hygienic,inverting the cigarettes inside a rigid hinged-lid packet means thecigarettes must be gripped by the plain ends, thus resulting in tobaccofallout from the ends of the cigarettes. Moreover, the cup shape of thecontainer and the lid makes it difficult to seal between the lid and thecontainer to prevent deterioration of the cigarettes in the event ofaccidental tearing of the overwrapping.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide a rigid cigarettepacket designed to eliminate the drawbacks of the known state of the artin a straightforward, practical manner.

According to the present invention, there is provided a rigid cigarettepacket substantially in the form of a right parallelepiped, extendingalong an axis, and comprising a container and a lid hinged to saidcontainer along a hinge; the container comprising four walls parallel tothe axis and forming a loop, a bottom wall crosswise to the axis, aninner compartment for housing cigarettes, and an opening for access tothe compartment; at least one of the walls parallel to the axiscomprising a free edge; the opening extending between the hinge and saidfree edge; the cigarettes being arranged, inside said compartment,parallel to said axis; and the packet being characterized in that saidcontainer comprises a top wall crosswise to said axis; said hingeextending on the wall parallel to the axis and comprising said freeedge.

According to the present invention, the opening of the container, asopposed to corresponding to an end section of the packet, is locatedalong a wall parallel to the axis and may therefore be located at acentral portion of the container and not necessarily at one end of thecontainer, as in the case of a hinged cup-shaped lid. Moreover, asopposed to the five-walled container of conventional packets with ahinged cup-shaped lid, the packet according to the present invention hasthe advantage of having a six-walled container, which makes the packetmuch stronger than conventional hinged-lid packets, particularly whenthe lid is left open.

According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the packetcomprises a removable lid over said hinged lid, which acts as a supportfor graphics and/or advertising.

Such an embodiment enables application to the hinged lid of advertising,competitions or similar, which are currently forbidden by law on theouter surface of the packet, and which must be inserted inside thepacket in the form of coupons, thus complicating manufacture of thepacket.

According to a further preferred embodiment of the present invention,the removable lid is connected to the front wall and the lateral wallsof the container along continuous tear lines forming an endless path.

The above further preferred embodiment of the invention provides forobtaining a hermetically sealed packet with no need to wrap the packetin a sheet of overwrapping material.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a blank fromwhich to form the packet according to the present invention in astraightforward, low-cost manner.

According to the present invention, there is provided a flat blank ofcardboard from which to form a rigid cigarette packet comprising acontainer, a hinged lid, and a removable lid over the hinged lid; theblank comprising first panels for forming said container, second panelsfor forming said hinged lid, and third panels for forming said removablelid; said third panels being separated from said first panels bycontinuous tear lines forming an endless path.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A number of non-limiting embodiments of the present invention will bedescribed by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings,in which:

FIG. 1 shows a view in perspective of a rigid cigarette packet inaccordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 shows a partly exploded view in perspective of the FIG. 1 packet;

FIG. 3 shows a view in perspective of the FIG. 1 packet in the openposition and with part of the packet removed;

FIG. 4 shows a cross section of the FIG. 1 packet along line IV—IV;

FIG. 5 shows a cross section of the FIG. 3 packet along line V—V;

FIG. 6 shows a plan view of a flat blank from which to form the FIG. 1packet;

FIG. 7 shows a flat blank from which to form a collar for the FIG. 1packet;

FIG. 8 shows a view in perspective of a first variation of the FIG. 1packet;

FIG. 9 shows a plan view of a flat blank from which to form the firstvariation in FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 shows a view in perspective of a second variation of the FIG. 1packet;

FIG. 11 shows a plan view of a flat blank from which to form the secondvariation in FIG. 10.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

With reference to FIGS. 1 to 5, number 1 indicates a rigid cigarettepacket in the form of a right parallelepiped and extending along alongitudinal axis Z.

Packet 1 houses an orderly group of cigarettes 2 enclosed in a wrapping3, and comprises a container 4, a lid 5 hinged to container 4 along ahinge 6, a lid 7 removable from container 4, and a collar 8 insidecontainer 4. Container 4, hinged lid 5, removable lid 7 and collar 8 aremade of rigid cardboard, while wrapping 3 is made of sheet material,normally foil.

With reference to FIGS. 1 to 3, container 4 comprises a front wall 9parallel to axis Z; a rear wall 10 parallel to and facing front wall 9;two lateral walls 11 facing and parallel to axis Z and perpendicular towalls 9 and 10; a bottom wall 12 perpendicular to axis Z; and a top wall13 facing and parallel to bottom wall 12.

As shown more clearly in FIG. 3, container 4 is in the form of a rightparallelepiped, and comprises a compartment 14 for housing cigarettes 2;and an opening 15 formed along front wall 9 and lateral walls 11, andpermitting access to compartment 14. In other words, the containercomprises four walls 9, 10, 11 parallel to the axis and forming a loop;and opening 15 extends along at least one of the walls parallel to axisZ.

With reference to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, front wall 9 comprises a bottomportion 16 extending between bottom wall 12 and hinge 6; and a topportion 17 extending between top wall 13 and a bottom edge 18 parallelto hinge 6. Each lateral wall 11 defines a straight edge 19 adjacent tohinge 6 and parallel to axis Z; and a curved edge 20 between edge 18 andedge 19. Hinge 6 and edge 18 define opening 15 in a direction parallelto axis Z; and edges 19 and 20 define opening 15 in directionsperpendicular to axis Z.

With reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, removable lid 7 comprises a centralwall 21, and two lateral walls 22 perpendicular to central wall 21.Before being detached from container 4, removable lid 7 is integral withcontainer 4, is integral with front wall 9 and lateral walls 11, and islocated over lid 5. More specifically, central wall 21 is connected toportions 16 and 17 along respective tear lines 23 and 24, and to lateralwalls 11 along respective straight tear lines 25, while lateral walls 22are connected to respective lateral walls 11 by respective curved tearlines 26. Tear lines 23, 24, 25 and 26 define an endless path along theouter surface of packet 1, and are formed by cutting the cardboard sothat, when pull is exerted between container 4 and lid 7, lid 7 isdetached from container. 4 along said endless path.

Hinged lid 5, when closed, closes the whole of opening 15, and comprisesa central wall 27, which, in the closed position shown in FIG. 2,extends, parallel to axis Z, from hinge 6 to edge 18; and two lateralwalls 28, which, in the closed position shown in FIG. 2, extend, beneathlateral walls 11, from bottom wall 12 up to edge 18, and areperpendicular to central wall 27. Each lateral wall 28 has an appendix29, which is not adjacent to central wall 27 and projects towards bottomwall 12; and central wall 27 has an outer face F bearing advertisingand/or graphics S which are exposed when removable lid 7 is removed.

Collar 8 is located inside compartment 14, between wrapping 3 andcontainer 4, and comprises a central wall 30, and two lateral walls 31perpendicular to central wall 30, which projects partly from portion 16at hinge 6 and extends just short of bottom wall 12. Each lateral wall31 extends parallel to a respective lateral wall 11 of container 4, frombottom wall 12 up to curved edge 20; and each appendix 29 of hinged lid5 is located between a respective lateral wall 11 of container 4 and alateral wall 31 of collar 8, which provide for guiding the appendix whenopening and closing hinged lid 5.

Wrapping 3 comprises a removable so-called pull-off portion 32 connectedto the rest of wrapping 3 by a prepunched line, and which, when removed,exposes cigarettes 2 at opening 15. Removable portion 32 extends fromcollar 8 up to part of wrapping 3 facing top wall 13, and extendslaterally just short of rear wall 10.

With reference to FIG. 5, cigarettes 2 are arranged parallel to axis Zinside compartment 14, and comprise respective filters 33 located at anda given distance from top wall 13 of packet 1. In other words, bottomwall 12 and top wall 13 are separated by a distance, along axis Z,greater than the length of cigarettes 2.

In a variation not shown, cigarettes 2 are arranged with filters 33 atbottom wall 12.

In a further variation not shown, cigarettes 2 are arranged parallel tohinge 6, and, combined with the packet 1 described, would be shorterthan cigarettes 2 arranged parallel to axis Z. However, packet 1 may bealtered in size to house cigarettes arranged parallel to hinge 6 and ofthe same length as cigarettes 2.

Number 34 in FIG. 6 indicates a flat cardboard blank extending along alongitudinal axis X of symmetry and comprising a number of panelsdescribed in detail later on. For the sake of simplicity, and to relateblank 34 clearly to packet 1, each panel corresponding to a wall ofpacket 1 is indicated using the same reference number as for the wall,plus a (′).

Blank 34 is substantially in the form of a rectangle elongated in adirection defined by axis X, and comprises two fold lines 35 parallel toand equidistant from axis X, and five lines 36, 37, 38, 39, 40perpendicular to axis X. Fold lines 35 define on blank 34 a centralstrip 41 of panels, and two lateral strips 42 of panels specularlysymmetrical with respect to axis X. Blank 34 is defined by an outer edgecomprising a straight side 43 extending perpendicular to axis X andacross the full width of blank 34; a straight side 44 opposite andparallel to side 43 and extending the full width of central strip 41;and two opposite sides 45. Each side 45 comprises a portion 46 parallelto axis X and extending from side 43 to fold line 37; a concave portion47 and a straight portion 48 which extend between fold lines 37 and 39;a segmented, generally convex portion 49 extending between lines 39 and40; and a straight portion 50 extending between edge 44 and fold line 40and forming a theoretical continuation of fold line 35. Blank 34 alsocomprises an edge 51 at each strip 42 and forming a theoreticalcontinuation of fold line 39.

Each lateral strip 42 is interrupted by a slit 52 coincident with foldline 36, and by a slit 53 coincident with fold line 39, and is separatedpartly from central strip 41 by a slit 54 extending along fold line 35from fold line 36 to fold line 37, and by a slit 55 extending along foldline 35 from fold line 38 to fold line 39.

In addition to the panels indicated (′), blank 34 also comprises panelswhich are not visible from the outside of packet 1, even after removalof removable lid 7. Along central strip 41, such panels comprise a flap56 defined by side 44, by fold line 40, and by portions 50; and a panel57 defined by hinge 6, by fold line 39, and by slits 55. Each lateralstrip 42 comprises a tab 58 defined by fold line 38, by edge 51, byportion 48, and by slits 53 and 55; a tab 59 defined by portion 46, byfold line 37, and by slits 52 and 54; and a panel 60 defined by foldlines 37 and 38, by portions 47 and 48, and by fold line 35.

Blank 34 is precut to form tear lines 23, 24, 25, 26 and so define,between side 43 and fold line 36, a rectangular panel 21′, and two tabs22′ separated from panel 21′ by fold lines 35.

Number 61 in FIG. 7 indicates a flat cardboard blank from which to formcollar 8, and which comprises an axis Y of symmetry, and two fold lines62 parallel to axis Y and defining a central panel 30′ corresponding towall 30 of collar 8, and two panels 31′ located on opposite sides ofcentral panel 30′ and corresponding to lateral walls 31 of collar 8.

Packet 1 is formed from blanks 34 and 61 and from a group of cigarettes2 in a wrapping 3 as follows:

Flap 56 is folded 180° about fold line 40 and glued to panel 27′; thegroup of cigarettes 2 is placed on panel 10′ at fold line 38; panel 30′is placed on wrapping 3; and panels 31′ are folded squarely on towrapping 3 to form collar 8. At this point, tabs 58 and 59 are foldedroughly 90° about respective fold lines 38 and 37, and each panel 60 isfolded a given angle about respective fold line 35. Panels 28′ arefolded squarely about respective fold lines 35; panel 12′ is foldedsquarely about fold line 38; and panels 57 and 27′ are folded squarelyabout fold line 39 so that panels 28′ are positioned contacting wrapping3 and over tabs 31 of collar 8. Panel 13′ is folded squarely about foldline 37; and panels 16′, 17′, 21′, 11′ and 22′ are folded squarely withrespect to line 36 and over panels 27′ and 57. At this point, each panel11′ is folded squarely about respective fold line 35 and glued in knownmanner to panel 60; and tabs 58 and 59 are glued in known manner torespective panels 12′ and 13′.

Packet 1 is thus closed hermetically, so that no overwrapping isrequired.

In actual use, the user detaches removable lid 7 to expose theunderlying hinged lid 5, which is movable about hinge 6 to permit accessto inner compartment 14 of container 4 and to cigarettes 2 inside. Toprevent jamming, lateral walls 28 of the hinged lid are guided bylateral walls 11 of packet 1, and by lateral walls 31 of the collar.

Number 63 in FIG. 8 indicates a packet of cigarettes in accordance witha first variation of packet 1. Packet 63 is a beveled-edge packet, and,like packet 1, comprises a container 4, a removable lid 7, a hinged lid5 (not shown in FIG. 8), and a collar 8 (not shown in FIG. 8). Thoughthe component parts of packet 63 described above differ in shape and/orsize from the respective component parts of packet 1, similar componentparts are indicated using the same reference numbers as for packet 1 forthe sake of simplicity. Front wall 9 and rear wall 10 are connected tolateral walls 11 by bevels 64 forming edges 65 between walls 9, 10 and11. Each bevel 64 connecting front wall 9 to a respective lateral wallcomprises a bottom portion 66 adjacent to bottom portion 16 of frontwall 9; and a top portion 67 adjacent to top portion 17 of front wall 9.Removable lid 7 comprises two bevels 68, which are coplanar with the twobevels 64 connecting front wall 9 to lateral walls 11, and connectcentral wall 21 of lid 7 to lateral walls 22 of lid 7. Besidesseparating wall 21 from respective portions 16 and 17, tear lines 23 and24 extend across bevels 64 to separate bevels 68 from respective bottomand top portions 66 and 67 of bevels 64; and tear lines 25 extend alongedges 65 between lateral walls 11 and bevels 64. Hinged lid 5 and collar8 (neither shown in FIG. 8) have bevels between respective central walls27 and 30 and respective lateral walls 28 and 31.

Number 69 in FIG. 9 indicates a flat cardboard blank extending along alongitudinal axis X of symmetry and comprising a number of panels fromwhich to form packet 63. For the sake of simplicity, and to relate blank69 clearly to packet 63, each panel corresponding to a wall of packet 63is indicated using the same reference number as for the wall, plus a(′), and the same reference numbers are used to indicate any partssimilar to those of blank 34.

Blank 69 is substantially in the form of a rectangle elongated in adirection defined by axis X of symmetry, and comprises fold lines 70,each of which is parallel to axis X and located between a fold line 35and a side 45, so as to form, between line 35 and line 70, panels 64′,68′ and 71, which, once blank 69 is folded, define bevels 64 ofcontainer 4, bevels 68 of removable lid 7, and the bevels (not shown inFIG. 8) of hinged lid 5. Blank 69 differs from blank 34 by comprisingtwo slits 72 located at flap 56 and extending along a theoreticalcontinuation of lines 35 to separate flap 56 from two panels 73.

Number 74 in FIG. 10 indicates a packet of cigarettes in accordance witha second variation of packet 1, and which, like packet 1, comprises acontainer 4, a removable lid 7, a hinged lid 5 (not shown in FIG. 10),and a collar 8 (not shown in FIG. 10). Though the component parts ofpacket 74 described above differ in shape and/or size from therespective component parts of packet 1, similar component parts areindicated using the same reference numbers as for packet 1 for the sakeof simplicity.

Front wall 9 and rear wall 10 of packet 74 have curved portions 75located at the lateral walls and which provide for connecting walls 9and 10 to lateral walls 11. Curved portions 75 of front wall 9 compriserespective bottom portions 76 adjacent to bottom portion 16 of frontwall 9, and respective top portions 77 adjacent to top portion 17 offront wall 9; and each curved portion 75 forms an edge 78 with therespective lateral wall 11. Central wall 21 of removable lid 7 comprisestwo curved portion 79 coplanar with portions 76 and 77.

Similarly, though not shown in FIG. 10, hinged lid 5 and collar 8 haverespective walls 27 and 30 comprising curved portions at respectivelateral walls 28 and 31.

Number 80 in FIG. 11 indicates a flat cardboard blank extending along alongitudinal axis X of symmetry and comprising a number of panels fromwhich to form packet 74. For the sake of simplicity, and to relate blank80 clearly to packet 74, each panel corresponding to a wall of packet 74is indicated using the same reference number as for the wall, plus a(′), and the same reference numbers are used to indicate any partssimilar to those of blank 34.

Blank 80 differs from blank 34 by being provided, at fold lines 35, withadjacent incision lines 81 parallel to axis X and forming panels 75′,76′, 77′, 79′ and 82, which, when blank 80 is folded to form packet 74,curve and correspond respectively to the curved portions of rear wall10, to bottom and top portions 76, 77 of curved portions 75 of frontwall 9, to curved portions 79 of central wall 21 of removable lid 7, andto the curved portions of the central wall of the hinged lid not shownin FIG. 10.

In a further variation, not shown, of packet 1, the front wall and rearwall are connected to the lateral walls by curved portions with no edgesand defined by incision lines in the blank; and the removable lid,hinged lid and collar also comprise curved portions connecting therespective central walls to the respective lateral walls.

Blanks 34, 69 and 80 have first panels to form container 4, secondpanels to form hinged lid 5, and third panels to form removable lid 7;the second and third panels are located on opposite sides; and thesecond panels define a larger surface area than the third panels.

1. A rigid cigarette packet substantially in the form of a rightparallelepiped, extending along an axis (Z), and comprising a container(4), a group of cigarette (2), and a lid (5) hinged to said container(4) along a hinge (6); the container (4) comprising four walls (9, 10,11) parallel to the axis (Z), forming a loop, and comprising a frontwall (9), a rear wall (10), and two lateral walls (11); wherein at leastthe front wall (9) comprises a free edge (18) and said hinge (6) extendson the front wall (9); a bottom wall (12) crosswise to the axis (Z); atop wall (13) crosswise to said axis; an inner compartment (14) housingthe group of cigarettes (2), which are arranged parallel to said axis(Z); an opening (15) for access to the compartment (14) and extendingbetween the hinge (6) and said free edge (18); wherein said hinged lid(5) comprises a central wall (27) rotating about said hinge (6), and twolateral walls (28) perpendicular to the central wall (27) and parallelto the lateral walls (11) of the container (4); and a collar (8) locatedinside said compartment (14) and having two lateral walls (31) locatedat respective lateral walls (11) of the container (4); each lateral wall(28) of the hinged lid (5) is located between a lateral wall (31) of thecollar (8) and a lateral wall (11) of the container (4).
 2. A packet asclaimed in claim 1, wherein said front wall (9) comprises a firstportion (16) of the front wall (9) adjacent to the bottom wall (12), anda second portion (17) of the front wall (9) adjacent to the top wall(13) and coplanar with the first portion (16); the first and the secondportion (16, 17) of the front wall (9) being separated by said opening(15).
 3. A packet as claimed in claim 1, wherein said hinge (6) iscrosswise to said axis (z).
 4. A packet as claimed in claim 3, whereinsaid free edge (18) is parallel to said hinge (6) and extends the fullwidth of the front wall (9).
 5. A packet as claimed in claim 1, whereinsaid opening (15) extends partly along the lateral walls (11).
 6. Apacket as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cigarettes (2) are arranged,inside said compartment (14), parallel to said axis (Z); and in thatsaid bottom and top walls (12, 13) are perpendicular to said axis (Z)and separated by a distance greater than the length of said cigarettes(2).
 7. A packet as claimed in claim 6, wherein said cigarettes (2) havefilters (33) located adjacent to the top wall (13).
 8. A packet asclaimed in claim 1, wherein said cigarettes (2) are housed inside saidcompartment (14) and extend parallel to said axis (Z) between the twolateral walls (11); said lateral walls (11) facing each other and beingparallel to each other and to the axis (Z).
 9. A packet as claimed inclaim 1, and comprising a removable lid (7) over said hinged lid (5).10. A packet as claimed in claim 9, wherein said hinged lid (5) is thesupport for graphics and/or advertising.
 11. A packet as claimed inclaim 9, wherein said removable lid (7) is connected to the front wall(9) and to the lateral walls (11) of the container (4) along continuoustear lines (23, 24, 25, 26) forming an endless path.
 12. A packet asclaimed in claim 11, wherein said tear lines (23, 24, 25, 26) comprise afirst tear line (23) adjacent to said hinge (6); and a second tear line(24) substantially coincident with said free edge (18).
 13. A packet asclaimed in claim 12, wherein said opening is defined laterally by afurther two edges (19, 20) along each lateral wall (11) of the container(4); said further two edges (19, 20) being substantially coincident withtwo tear lines (25, 26).
 14. A packet as claimed in claim 9, whereinsaid removable lid (7) comprises a central wall (21) substantiallycoplanar with the front wall (9) and superimposed on the central wall(27) of the hinged lid (5).
 15. A packet as claimed in claim 14, whereinsaid removable lid (7) comprises two lateral walls (22) perpendicular tothe central wall (21) of the removable lid (7) and coplanar with thelateral walls (11) of the container (4).
 16. The packet as claimed inclaim 14 comprising bevels (64) connecting the front wall (9) and therear wall (10) to the lateral walls (11) of the container (4); saidremovable lid comprising two bevels (68) connecting the central wall(21) to the lateral walls (22) of the removable lid.
 17. The packet asclaimed in claim 14 wherein the front wall (9) and the rear wall (10)comprise curved portions (75) at the lateral walls (11) of the container(4); the central wall (21) of the removable lid (7) comprising curvedportions (79) at the lateral walls (22) of the removable lid (7).
 18. Arigid packet substantially in the form of a right parallelepiped,extending along an axis (Z), and comprising a container (4) and a lid(5) hinged to said container (4) along a hinge (6); the container (4)comprising: four walls (9, 10, 11) parallel to the axis (Z), forming aloop, and comprising a front wall (9), a rear wall (10), and two lateralwalls (11); wherein at least the front wall (9) comprises a free edge(18) and said hinge (6) extends on the front wall (9); a bottom wall(12) crosswise to the axis (Z); a top wall (13) crosswise to said axis;an inner compartment (14); an opening (15) for access to the compartment(14) and extending between the hinge (6) and said free edge (18);wherein said hinged lid (5) comprises a central wall (27) rotating aboutsaid hinge (6), and two lateral walls (28) perpendicular to the centralwall (27) and parallel to the lateral walls (11) of the container (4);and a collar (8) located inside said compartment (14) and having twolateral walls (31) located at respective lateral walls (11) of thecontainer (4); each lateral wall (28) of the hinged lid (5) is locatedbetween a lateral wall (31) of the collar (8) and a lateral wall (11) ofthe container (4).
 19. The packet of claim 18, further comprising agroup of cigarettes disposed in the inner compartment.
 20. The packet ofclaim 19, wherein the cigarettes are disposed parallel to the axis (Z).